Director of Communications

Role Summary

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) is hiring a Director of Communications to drive a core strategic function for the organization. In this leadership role, you will shape how lawmakers, clinicians, patients, industry partners, media outlets, and the wider public understand independent community oncology and the policies that influence cancer care.

You will own COA’s communications approach across media relations, policy messaging, member communications, executive visibility, and overall organizational storytelling. The position blends strategy with hands-on delivery and requires close collaboration with COA leadership, internal teams, and outside communications partners. It is a high-profile role that supports advocacy, education, research, and member engagement efforts.

COA is looking for a resourceful communications leader who can strengthen an already solid foundation while continuously improving the reach, clarity, and impact of the organization’s voice.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape and lead communications across external messaging, public relations, policy communications, digital channels, executive communications, and member outreach.
• Act as a trusted communications partner to leadership, helping craft messaging, strategy, and public positioning for major organizational priorities.
• Write, edit, and produce a wide range of materials such as press releases, media remarks, newsletters, opinion articles, website copy, and email marketing content.
• Create and run a proactive national media outreach plan that builds reporter relationships, drives earned coverage, and positions COA leaders as reliable experts on cancer care policy and community oncology.
• Support communications for federal and state advocacy efforts, research initiatives, educational programs, conferences, and campaigns, ensuring consistency and strong execution.
• Guide digital communications across the website, email, social media, multimedia, and new/emerging platforms.
• Lead, coach, and develop communications staff and vendors while improving workflows, standards, and overall quality.
• Coordinate with COA’s external public relations agency and other communications partners.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in strategic communications, public relations, public affairs, journalism, marketing, or a similar discipline.
• Proven ability to build and deliver integrated communications plans for a nonprofit, association, health care organization, government agency, or comparable setting.
• Outstanding writing and editing ability, including the skill to explain complex health care and public policy topics in a clear and persuasive way.
• Strong familiarity with health care, advocacy, government affairs, or public policy; experience in oncology is a strong advantage.
• Track record of developing proactive media strategies, working with national and trade journalists, and earning meaningful coverage.
• Experience with digital communications, executive communications, and organizational messaging.
• Comfort using artificial intelligence and other new technologies to improve planning, content creation, research, and efficiency while maintaining strong editorial standards.
• Ability to juggle several high-priority projects at once without losing attention to detail or quality.
• Experience managing external agencies, consultants, or communications vendors.
• Self-starting, entrepreneurial style with the ability to both design strategy and personally deliver high-quality work.
• Strong organization, project management, and interpersonal skills, plus the ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving, mostly virtual environment.

Location and Travel

This is a remote role, but applicants must live on the East Coast and be based in or near the Washington, DC, Philadelphia, or New York metropolitan areas.

The role involves about 20% travel for meetings, conferences, advocacy events, leadership sessions, practice visits, and other organizational activities.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation will be competitive and aligned with experience. The package also includes bonus eligibility.

Benefits include paid vacation, major federal holidays, medical coverage, vision coverage, dental coverage, disability insurance, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

About Community Oncology Alliance

Community Oncology Alliance (COA) is a nonprofit organization focused on making sure patients can access high-quality, affordable, innovative cancer treatment close to home. COA is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to community oncology, where most Americans with cancer receive care. Through advocacy, policy work, and community engagement, COA supports independent community oncology practices and works to improve access to quality cancer care across the country.

Additional Information

This position is highly visible and externally facing. It requires close partnership with senior leadership and colleagues across the organization to advance advocacy, education, research, and member engagement goals.

COA is seeking someone who is energized by building on a strong communications base while continuing to raise standards, effectiveness, and impact.